honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 19, 2009

2009 Transpac yachts have swell times


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo, considered by many the fastest yacht in the world, broke the Transpac record by more than one day.

Courtesy photo

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Bobbie Jennings

spacer spacer

Alfa Romeo and Samba Pa Ti stole the show at the 2009 Transpac.

The Transpac is considered one of the most prestigious long-distance races in the world and was hosted by the Waikiki Yacht Club.

In the past, sailing celebrities such as Roy E. Disney have competed in the 2,225-nautical-mile race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

This year, Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo — a Reichel Pugh 100 with a crew of 16 — set a Transpac record of 5 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes and 20 seconds, breaking the mark set by Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory in 2005 of 6:16:04:11.

"Many people consider (Alfa Romeo) the fastest yacht in the world," said Transpac committee co-chair Bobbie Jennings, who has been involved with the biennial race for 40 years.

Crichton, a former Hawai'i resident, said, "Alfa Romeo performed faultlessly, taking everything that the race threw at her in her stride."

Alfa Romeo also set the Transpac distance record of 431 miles in a 24-hour period.

Meanwhile, John Kilroy Jr.'s Samba Pa Ti — a Transpac 52 — swept three major awards.

The eight-man team won Division I for large yachts, and also captured the Barn Door Trophy for fastest elapsed time of human-powered traditionally designed boats in 7:08:17:11.

The team also won the King Kalakaua Trophy for best corrected time of 5:07:52:20.

"It is wonderful to be in Hawai'i," Kilroy said. "It was a great race and a wonderful victory for the team."

Other division winners were: Oex (Division II), Criminal Mischief (Division III), Bad Pak (Division IV), Horizon (Division V), Relentless (Division VI) and Charisma (Division VII).

In other notable finishes, Waikiki Yacht Club's Philippe Kahn and teammate Mark Christensen sailing onboard Pegasus 50 smashed the double-handed record by almost three days, clocking in at 7: 18:38:35.

Meanwhile, Chasch Mer and Bloodhound were the first Hawai'i yachts to finish in 11:19:37:39 and 15:4:52:13, respectively.

Also, Disney's son, Roy Pat Disney, competed this year onboard Pyewacket. The Santa Cruz 70 finished third in Division II in 8:02:13:11.

The oldest yacht in this year's Transpac — the 45-year-old Ragtime — finished sixth in Division II at 8:18:19:34. Ragtime is a two-time Transpac winner.

A total of 45 out of 47 yachts completed the race.

FINAL STANDINGS

(elapsed time; corrected time in hours, minutes, seconds)

Division I: 1, Samba Pa Ti 176:17:11; 127:52:20. 2, Flash 182:42:40; 129:22:22. 3, Valkyrie 201:01:13; 146:15:33. 4, Medicine Man 182:03:09; 148:12:17. 5, Akela 179:58:10; 150:00:52. 6, Cazador 207:06:23; 150:27:27. 7, Pegasus 50 186:38:35; 153:38:35. 8, Alfa Romeo 134:36:20; 155:41:13. 9, Magnitude 80 160:17:41; 157:38:48.

Division II: 1, Oex 187:23:22; 132:30:34. 2, Grand Illusion 197:11:00; 133:24:43. 3, Pyewacket 194:13:11; 135:26:08. 4, Alchemy 199:00:45; 138:44:21. 5, Mirage 202:35:41; 141:22:58. 6, Ragtime 210:19:34; 141:42:16. 7, Holua 204:57:02; 144:30:05. 8, Westerly 212:37:23; 151:30:55.

Division III: 1, Criminal Mischief 224:40:00; 156:37:46. 2, Cipango 256:41:37; 171:59:21. 3, Bengal 7 246:47:00; 172:07:59. 4, Wasabi 262:17:41; 179:08:52. 5, Leglus 263:19:49; 190:12:29. 6, Free Range Chicken 280:01:10; 195:07:51.

Division IV: 1, Bad Pak 260:14:24; 166:11:12. 2, Reinrag2 259:22:26; 169:35:41. 3, Tachyon III 257:33:24; 179:09:58. 4, Relentless 52 258:35:38; 170:27:35. 5, Ruahatu 262:07:07; 170:49:42. 6, Hula 259:24:02; 171:06:40. 7, Artemis 270:20:45; 176:07:33. 8, Paranoia 274:23:47; 180:00:43.

Division V: 1, Horizon 263:15:02; 169:21:36. 2, Allure 263:13:57; 171:33:02. 3, Mighty Tongaroa 271:35:29; 175:14:58. 4, Passion 268:08:13; 179:16:03. 5, Chasch Mer 283:37:39; 186:54:34.

Division VI: 1, Relentless 320:16:50; 206:40:36. 2, Bloodhound 364:52:13; 226:42:43. 3, Narrow Escape 344:47:17; 229:31:11. 4, Addiction 393:07:04; 239:53:17. 5, J World retired.

Division VII: 1, Charisma 340:31:56; 221:36:29. 2, Between the Sheets 360:52:06; 232:48:20. 3, Far Niente 406:07:09; 250:31:11. 4, Hassle 427:26:39; 254:48:18. 5, Lynx 418:49:52; 292:04:20. 6, Silent Running retired.